World Cup 2014: Predicted Starting Lineups for Each Team in Brazil
You know the World Cup is just around the corner when you begin to seriously ponder what the starting line-ups might be for every team involved.
Each nation flying to Brazil will be going through their final preparations in training, tuning up their match sharpness in the warm-up games. But every player from every squad will be secretly battling to seal a place in the starting XI for their country’s first game of the tournament.
So with just a few days to go until the tournament kicks off in earnest, here’s a rundown of the projected starting line-ups for each of the 32 teams involved in what is set to be a gripping World Cup in Brazil.
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| GK | Mohamed Zemmamouche |
| RB | AIssa Mandi |
| CB | Carl Medjani |
| CB | Madjid Bougherra |
| LB | Faouzi Ghoulam |
| RM | Sofiane Feghouli |
| CM | Medhi Lacen |
| CM | Nabil Bentaleb |
| LM | Yacine Brahimi |
| CAM | Saphir Taïder |
| ST | Islam Slimani |
| GK | Sergio Romero |
| RB | Pablo Zabaleta |
| CB | Federico Fernandez |
| CB | Ezequiel Garay |
| LB | Marcos Rojo |
| CDM | Javier Mascherano |
| CM | Fernando Gago |
| CM | Angel Di Maria |
| CF | Lionel Messi |
| ST | Gonzalo Higuain |
| ST | Sergio Aguero |
| GK | Mathew Ryan |
| RB | Ivan Franjic |
| CB | Matthew Spiranovic |
| CB | Ryan McGowan |
| LB | Jason Davidson |
| CDM | Mile Jedinak |
| CM | Mark Bresciano |
| CM | Mark Milligan |
| RM | Ben Halloran |
| LM | Tommy Oar |
| ST | Tim Cahill |
| GK | Thibaut Courtois |
| RB | Toby Alderweireld |
| CB | Vincent Kompany |
| CB | Daniel Van Buyten |
| LB | Jan Vertonghen |
| CDM | Axel Witsel |
| CM | Steven Defour |
| CM | Marouane Fellaini |
| RW | Kevin Mirallas |
| LW | Eden Hazard |
| ST | Romelu Lukaku |
| GK | Asmir Begovic |
| RB | Mensur Mujdza |
| CB | Emir Spahic |
| CB | Ermin Bicakcic |
| LB | Sead Kolasinac |
| CDM | Sejad Salihovic |
| CDM | Muhamed Besic |
| RM | Izet Hajrovic |
| LM | Senad Lulic |
| CAM | Miralem Pjanic |
| ST | Edin Dzeko |
| GK | Julio Caesar |
| RB | Dani Alves |
| CB | Thiago Silva |
| CB | David Luiz |
| LB | Marcelo |
| CDM | Luis Gustavo |
| CDM | Paulinho |
| CAM | Oscar |
| RW | Hulk |
| LW | Neymar |
| ST | Fred |
| GK | Charles Itandje |
| RB | Aurelien Chedjou |
| CB | Stephane Mbia |
| CB | Nicolas Nkoulou |
| LB | Benoit Assou-Ekotto |
| CDM | Alex Song |
| CM | Joel Matip |
| CM | Jean Makoun |
| RW | Benjamin Moukandjo |
| LW | Pierre Webo |
| ST | Samuel Eto'o |
| GK | Claudio Bravo |
| CB | Gonzalo Jara |
| CB | Gary Medel |
| CB | Jose Rojas |
| CDM | Arturo Vidal |
| CDM | Marcelo Diaz |
| RM | Mauricio Isla |
| LM | Jean Beausejour |
| RW | Alexis Sanchez |
| LW | Eduardo Vargas |
| ST | Mauricio Pinilla |
| GK | David Ospina |
| RB | Camilo Zuniga |
| CB | Cristian Zapata |
| CB | Mario Yepes |
| LB | Pablo Armero |
| CDM | Abel Aguilar |
| CDM | Fredy Guarin |
| RAM | Juan Cuadrado |
| LAM | James Rodriguez |
| ST | Jackson Martinez |
| ST | Adrian Ramos |
| GK | Keylor Navas |
| CB | Johnny Acosta |
| CB | Giancarlo Gonzalez |
| CB | Michael Umana |
| RWB | Christian Gamboa |
| CDM | Celso Borges |
| CDM | Yeltsin Tejeda |
| LWB | Junior Diaz |
| CAM | Bryan Ruiz |
| CAM | Christian Bolanos |
| ST | Joel Campbell |
| GK | Stipe Pletikosa |
| RB | Darijo Srna |
| CB | Vedran Corluka |
| CB | Dejan Lovren |
| LB | Danijel Pranjic |
| CM | Luka Modric |
| CM | Ivan Rakitic |
| RAM | Ivan Perisic |
| CAM | Mateo Kovacic |
| LAM | Ivica Olic |
| ST | Mario Mandzukic |
| GK | Alexander Dominguez |
| RB | Juan Paredes |
| CB | Jorge Guagua |
| CB | Frickson Erazo |
| LB | Walter Ayovi |
| CDM | Segundo Castillo |
| RM | Antonio Valencia |
| CM | Christian Noboa |
| CM | Fidel Martinez |
| LM | Jefferson Montero |
| ST | Felipe Caicedo |
| GK | Joe Hart |
| RB | Glen Johnson |
| CB | Gary Cahill |
| CB | Phil Jagielka |
| LB | Leighton Baines |
| CDM | Steven Gerrard |
| CDM | Jordan Henderson |
| RAM | Adam Lallana |
| CAM | Wayne Rooney |
| LAM | Danny Welbeck |
| ST | Daniel Sturridge |
| GK | Hugo Lloris |
| RB | Mathieu Debuchy |
| CB | Raphael Varane |
| CB | Mamadou Sakho |
| LB | Lucas Digne |
| CDM | Yohan Cabaye |
| CM | Paul Pogba |
| CM | Blaise Matuidi |
| RW | Mathieu Valbuena |
| LW | Franck Ribéry |
| ST | Karim Benzema |
| GK | Manuel Neuer |
| RB | Philipp Lahm |
| CB | Per Mertesacker |
| CB | Mats Hummels |
| LB | Erik Durm |
| CDM | Bastian Schweinsteiger |
| CDM | Sami Khedira |
| RAM | Thomas Mueller |
| CAM | Mesut Ozil |
| LAM | Marco Reus |
| ST | Miroslav Klose |
| GK | Adam Kwarasey |
| RB | Samuel Inkoom |
| CB | Rashid Sumalia |
| CB | Jonathan Mensah |
| LB | Daniel Opare |
| CDM | Michael Essien |
| CDM | Sulley Muntari |
| RM | Andre Ayew |
| CM | Kevin-Prince Boateng |
| LM | Kwadwo Asamoah |
| ST | Asamoah Gyan |
| GK | Orestis Karnezis |
| RB | Vasilis Torosidis |
| CB | Sokratis Papastathopoulos |
| CB | Kostas Manolas |
| LB | Jose Holebas |
| CDM | Alexandros Tziolis |
| CDM | Giannis Maniatis |
| RM | Dimitris Salpingidis |
| CM | Giorgos Karagounis |
| LM | Giorgos Samaras |
| ST | Kostas Mitroglou |
| GK | Noel Valladares |
| RB | Arnold Peralta |
| CB | Osman Chavez |
| CB | Victor Bernardez |
| LB | Maynor Figueroa |
| RM | Oscar Boniek Garcia |
| CM | Wilson Palacios |
| CM | Roger Espinoza |
| LM | Emilio Izaguirre |
| ST | Jerry Bengtson |
| ST | Carlo Costly |
| GK | Rahman Ahmadi |
| RB | Pejman Montazeri |
| CB | Steven Beitashour |
| CB | Mohammad Khanzadeh |
| LB | Hashem Beykzadeh |
| RM | Khosrow Heidari |
| CM | Andranik Teymourian |
| CM | Javad Nekounam |
| LM | Ehsan Hajsafi |
| CAM | Ashkan Dejagah |
| ST | Reza Ghoochannejhad |
| GK | Gianluigi Buffon |
| RB | Ignazio Abate |
| CB | Leonardo Bonucci |
| CB | Giorgio Chiellini |
| LB | Mattia De Sciglio |
| CDM | Andrea Pirlo |
| CM | Marco Verratti |
| CM | Daniele De Rossi |
| CAM | Claudio Marchisio |
| ST | Mario Balotelli |
| ST | Antonio Cassano |
| GK | Boubacar Barry |
| RB | Serge Aurier |
| CB | Kolo Toure |
| CB | Souleyman Bamba |
| LB | Arthur Boka |
| CDM | Didier Zokora |
| CDM | Cheick Tiote |
| CM | Yaya Toure |
| RW | Salomon Kalou |
| LW | Gervinho |
| ST | Didier Drogba |
| GK | Eiji Kawashima |
| RB | Atsuto Uchida |
| CB | Maya Yoshida |
| CB | Yasuyuki Konno |
| LB | Yuto Nagatomo |
| CDM | Yasuhito Endo |
| CDM | Makoto Hasebe |
| RAM | Keisuke Honda |
| CAM | Shinji Kagawa |
| LAM | Yoichiro Kakitani |
| ST | Shinji Okazaki |
| GK | Guillermo Ochoa |
| CB | Rafael Marquez |
| CB | Francisco Rodriguez |
| CB | Hector Moreno |
| RWB | Miguel Layun |
| LWB | Andres Guardado |
| CM | Hector Herrera |
| CM | Carlos Pena |
| CM | Marco Fabian |
| CF | Giovani dos Santos |
| ST | Oribe Peralta |
| GK | Michel Vorm |
| CB | Stefan de Vrij |
| CB | Ron Vlaar |
| CB | Bruno Martins Indi |
| RWB | Daryl Janmaat |
| LWB | Daley Blind |
| CM | Jordy Clasie |
| CM | Jonathan de Guzman |
| CM | Wesley Sneijder |
| ST | Arjen Robben |
| ST | Robin van Persie |
| GK | Vincent Enyeama |
| RB | Efe Ambrose |
| CB | Godfrey Oboabona |
| CB | Joseph Yobo |
| LB | Elderson Echiejile |
| CDM | Ogenyi Onazi |
| CDM | John Obi Mikel |
| RM | Victor Moses |
| CM | Michael Babatunde |
| LM | Ahmed Musa |
| ST | Emmanuel Emenike |
| GK | Rui Patricio |
| RB | Joao Pereira |
| CB | Pepe |
| CB | Bruno Alves |
| LB | Fabio Coentrao |
| CDM | William Carvalho |
| CM | Joao Moutinho |
| CM | Raul Meireles |
| RW | Luis Nani |
| LW | Cristiano Ronaldo |
| ST | Helder Postiga |
| GK | Igor Akinfeev |
| RB | Andrey Eshchenko |
| CB | Vasili Berezutskiy |
| CB | Sergey Ignashevich |
| LB | Dmitry Kombarov |
| CDM | Igor Denisov |
| CM | Roman Shirokov |
| CM | Victor Faizulin |
| RAM | Alan Dzagoev |
| LAM | Alexander Kokorin |
| ST | Alexander Kerzhakov |
| GK | Jung Sung-ryong |
| RB | Kim Chang-soo |
| CB | Kim Young-gwon |
| CB | Kwak Tae-hwi |
| LB | Yun Suk-young |
| RM | Lee Chung-yong |
| CM | Ki Sung-yueng |
| CM | Park Jong-woo |
| LM | Ji Dong-won |
| CAM | Son Heung-min |
| ST | Park Chu-young |
| GK | Iker Casillas |
| RB | Cesar Azpilicueta |
| CB | Gerard Pique |
| CB | Sergio Ramos |
| LB | Jordi Alba |
| CDM | Xabi Alonso |
| CDM | Sergio Busquets |
| CM | Xavi |
| RAM | David Silva |
| LAM | Andres Iniesta |
| CF | Cesc Fabregas |
| GK | Diego Benaglio |
| RB | Stephan Lichtsteiner |
| CB | Fabian Schaer |
| CB | Steve von Bergen |
| LB | Ricardo Rodriguez |
| CDM | Gokhan Inler |
| CDM | Valon Behrami |
| RAM | Xherdan Shaqiri |
| CAM | Granit Xhaka |
| LAM | Valentin Stocker |
| ST | Josip Drmic |
| GK | Tim Howard |
| RB | Geoff Cameron |
| CB | Matt Besler |
| CB | John Brooks |
| LB | Timmy Chandler |
| CDM | Michael Bradley |
| RM | Graham Zusi |
| LM | Fabian Johnson |
| CAM | Jermaine Jones |
| ST | Jozy Altidore |
| ST | Clint Dempsey |
| GK | Fernando Muslera |
| RB | Maximiliano Pereira |
| CB | Diego Lugano |
| CB | Diego Godin |
| LB | Martin Caceres |
| RM | Christian Stuani |
| CM | Nicolas Lodeiro |
| CM | Alvaro Rios |
| LM | Cristian Rodriguez |
| ST | Edinson Cavani |
| ST | Luis Suarez |
Strongest XIs
The favourites for the competition are naturally the hosts, Brazil. When you take a look at their starting XI, it is easy to see why. There is so much experience, so much athleticism and so much quality in Luiz Felipe Scolari’s team that it’s hard to see past a deep run in the tournament in front of their fervent supporters.
Quite remarkably for a Brazil team, the main strength looks to be in the defensive areas. In Marcelo and Dani Alves, the Brazilian team have two of the most vibrant full-backs on the planet, while Paris Saint-Germain’s Thiago Silva is arguably the best centre-back in world football at the moment.
Further forward, the creative burden looks likely to fall primarily on the shoulders of Chelsea playmaker Oscar, whilst Neymar will be tasked with adding a little stardust to proceedings. Of the two prodigious aforementioned attacking talents, BBC’s South American expert Tim Vickery thinks it’s the former who will be most vital to Brazilian hopes:
The holders Spain also boast a stunning array of talent in their likely starting line-up. For Vincent del Bosque’s team, the major question is whether they will use an orthodox forward or a false nine.
Cesc Fabregas has been used as a centre-forward regularly by the Spain manager, but Diego Costa is set to make his major tournament bow for La Roja this summer. The Atletico Madrid man enjoyed a wonderful campaign with the Spanish champions, but he has been suffering with fitness concerns of late.
You can see why Del Bosque will be desperate to have Costa fit when you compare him to Spain's other forward options:
Argentina will be hoping to win their first World Cup in 28 years when they take to the field on their home continent. They too have a stellar first XI, with a formidable forward foursome of Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero and Angel di Maria.
You suspect Alejandro Sabella’s team will play to their strengths and look to outscore the opposition in Brazil, and the wealth of firepower they have at their disposal far surpasses that of any team in the competition.
Argentina have a nice balance in midfield too, with the legs of Fernando Gago and Javier Mascherano likely to provide an ample foil for the forwards. But the defence and goalkeeper can admittedly be gotten at. If someone like Messi does catch fire, however, the Albiceleste could be difficult to stop in Brazil.
Overall, the strongest first XI belongs to the holders, who will be going in search of their fourth consecutive major tournament win when they take to the field in South America.
But it’s not only the strength of their first team that makes this Spain outfit so formidable, it’s the riches they have in reserve, too. Del Bosque can call upon players like Pedro, Juan Mata, David Villa and Santi Cazorla if required, giving their bench just as intimidating an aura as the first team.
Spain do have a difficult group—where they will be pitted against Chile, Netherlands and Australia—but some tough, yet winnable games there will see them battle-hardened for the latter stages of the tournament. Expect this wonderfully talented Spanish group to triumph in Brazil and in doing so, cement their legacy as the greatest international team of all time.
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